The last few weeks adjusting to our new political climate has been quite the rollercoaster to say the least. My appetite for posting pretty pictures of high-end, hand-woven Moroccan rugs and picturesque Middle Atlas landscapes has waned every time there has been a new Executive Order targeting folks of marginalized identities in the US and beyond.

At the same time I remember that I first started Kantara after living and working in Morocco in 2006. More than just slinging rugs, I wanted to use Kantara as a platform to share stories of the women weavers, of how they live their lives, and of the role religion, tradition, food, and artistry play in their daily lives.

I'm no expert on the matter but I've been traveling to Morocco on and off for the last decade. On early buying trips, I weathered every form of public transportation that exists and got my systems down. Sometimes I would hitchhike.

Now when I go to Morocco, I rent a tiny car and travel from village to village over some of the country's more remote terrain. I take back roads, dirt roads, non-roads. I've picked up hitchhikers, gotten pulled over by cops dozens upon dozens of times, and had my car break down. There have been many times when I've gotten lost and asked directions only for the person directing me to jump in my car and take us both to my desired location.

Over the years, I've crisscrossed Morocco many times, traveling as a single woman, no hijab, and usually alone. I've never had any issues.

To the contrary, more often than not, I would be invited in for tea, make a new acquaintance, or at the very least have a good discussion and practice my Arabic.

There is so much more to say on this matter, but for now, I'm realizing it's more important than ever for us to use every tool we have to speak truth to power. I intend to do just that.

I have been treated with such kindness and generosity by the artisans and families that I work with in Morocco. I have learned so much from these sage, hard-working Amazigh matriarchs-- about weaving, about life, about resilience. As we settle into our new geo-political reality, I'm going to be sharing more about the women that weave these rugs in an attempt to foster a greater understanding of a people that are not so different than each of us. #KantaraStory

At our Apartment Therapy talk last night we launched our Design Kantara contest which is easy and fun -- we invite you to color in these Moroccan pillow designs, post to Instagram using the hashtag #DesignKantara and @-ing us (@MoroccanRugs)

-- And then -- we'll choose one winner per design, have our ladies weave the pillows, and the lucky winners will get their own pillows by the end of the summer!

Working on a mini Kantara coloring booklet for the Kantara Apartment Therapy talk tomorrow night. Anyone who fills out the design may win their own custom designed pillow made by our artisans ~ #designKantara

This video from the WHERE RUGS FLY // MOROCCO IN MOTION Bushwick Open Studios exhibit features flying rugs and pillows from Kantara Rugs, a Brooklyn-based design business featuring Moroccan rugs and textiles.